Musical hoop



(No Model.) 5 I J. H. MILLEDGE.v I MUSICAL. H00]?- No. 572,555. Patented Dec. 8, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOHN HENRY MILLEDGE, OF MARLIN, TEXAS.

MUSICAL HOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,555, dated December 8, 1896.

Application filed April 23,

T0 on whom it may concern.-

following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to toys; and the object thereof is to provide a musical hoop or wheel which is intended to interest and amuse children; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel made according to my invention 3 and Fig. 2, a section through a portion thereof, said section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

In the drawings forming part of this specification, A represents a central disk which constitutes the hub of my improved musical wheel and from which project four radial spokes a, which form the main spokes or supports for the wheel, and these spokes pass through or are otherwise connected with a hollow ring or band B, which is preferably tubular in form, and are connected at the outer ends with the rim or tire O of the wheel.

Secured to the central disk A are a large number of fine wires D, which are preferably silvered or otherwise prepared so as to improve the tone thereof, and these wires are each passed through oblong slots (Z, formed in the ring B, and are firmly secured to the tire or rim 0. Any desired number of these wires D, which in efiect constitute and appear as spokes, may be employed, and in practice they are tightly drawn, so as toincrease the tension thereof as much as possible, and thus also affect the tone when the same are struck or sounded, and in practice I also place within the ring B a metal ball E, which is free to move or roll through or around said ring.

When the wheel is turned, the ball E, passing through the hollow tubular ring B, will strike the wires D and pass around the same 1896. Serial No. 588,745. (No model.)

and proceed around the entire circumference of the ring, the wires D being struck in rapid succession, and thus a constant musical tone or effect is produced the character of which would depend upon the character of the wires D and the degree of the tension thereof.

This device may be made to produce a very musical effect, and the same, as will be apparent, is simple in construction and operation and comparatively inexpensive.

The central disk or head A is preferably made of metal, as is also the rim or tire C, but my invention is not limited to the material employed, nor to the exact form, construction, and arrangement of parts herein described, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Ina musical wheel,the combination with a central disk or hub, and a rim or tire connected therewith, of a hollow ring which is placed between said disk or hub and said rim or tire, a plurality of Wires which are connected with said disk or head and passed through said ring, and connected with said rim or tire, and a ball which is placed in said ring, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a musical wheel, the combination with a central disk or hub, and a rim or tire, connected therewith, of a hollow ring which is placed between said disk or hub and said rim or tire, a plurality of wires which are connected with said disk or head and passed through said ring, and connected With said rim or tire, and a ball which is placed in said ring, said ring being provided with oblong slots through which said wires are passed and said ball being-free to roll therethrough and to come in contact with said Wires, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this'30th day of March, 1896.

JOHN HENRY MILLEDGE.

Witnesses:

O. Gnnsr, O. G. MILLEN. 

